Scientists discover how specific protein regions contribute to breast cancer

-

 

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have discovered how specific protein regions contribute to breast cancer.

Their study, published recently in Nature, focuses on what is known as the estrogen receptor, a protein linked in previous research to the development of roughly 70% of all breast tumors.

Just as a machine needs specific controls to function, proteins like the estrogen receptor control how cells grow and behave.

While more research is needed to possibly use their findings to develop new treatments, the discovery offers scientists new tools and ideas far beyond breast cancer, as similar protein regions are involved in many other diseases.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, with over 2.3 million new cases and 670,000 deaths reported in 2022, according to the World Health Organization. Despite the initial effectiveness of drugs that target the estrogen receptor, many patients eventually develop resistance, making therapies ineffective. This new discovery could result in more effective treatments and help explain why that might occur.

"Instead of simply shutting down the estrogen receptor," Yang said, "future drugs might be designed to target these newly discovered switches, offering new ways to control how the protein works."

The research team used small-angle X-ray scattering and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy tools from Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory and the National Synchrotron Light Source II to study the proteins switches in extraordinary detail. The collaboration included researchers from Arizona State University and Ohio State University. Additional support came from the National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society and the Mary Kay Ash Foundation.

"Yang's work highlights the importance of using cutting-edge technology and teamwork to answer big scientific questions," said Mark Chance, director of the Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics at the School of Medicine. "These national facilities allow us to make breakthroughs that can drive new cancer treatments."

#ResearchChemistry, #ChemicalInnovation, #Science, #ScienceResearch, #ScientificResearch, #ResearchAndDevelopment, #ChemistryEducation, #ChemistryExperiments, #ChemistryLab, #ChemistryStudents, #ChemistryStudy, #OrganicChemistry, #InorganicChemistry, #PhysicalChemistry, #AnalyticalChemistry, #Biochemistry, #MaterialsChemistry, #TheoreticalChemistry, #AppliedChemistry, #MedicinalChemistry


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Scientists just uncovered the first new chemical bond in over 10 years

-
Image
  A group of researchers at the University of Tokyo have spent years testing the limits of chemical bonds . And now, after years of work, they’ve finally explored an idea originally proposed in 1931: a chemical bond formed using just a single electron. This, of course, poses quite a conundrum, as many believe single-electron chemical bonds can’t exist. That’s because all of the current known covalent bonds—where atoms connect by sharing their electrons—must contain two, four, six, or eight electrons . However, in 1931, Linus Pauling theorized that a covalent bond could exist with atoms sharing a single electron. However, creating a new single-electron chemical bond isn’t easy. To find out if it is possible, researchers started with a covalent bond that already exists with two electrons. They then removed one of those electrons by using a chemical reaction. They used a large hydrocarbon with long bonds between its carbon atoms to help ensure the energy cost would be too great for a...
Read more

Solid State" Chemistry in Titan Ice Particles

-
Image
Scientists from NASA's Cassini mission suggested in a 2016 paper that the appearance of a cloud of dicyanoacetylene (C4N2) ice in Titan's stratosphere may be explained by "solid-state" chemistry taking place inside ice particles. The particles have an inner layer of cyanoacetylene (HC3N) ice coated with an outer layer of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) ice. Left: When a photon of light penetrates the outer shell, it can interact with the HC3N, producing C3N and H. Center: The C3N then reacts with HCN to yield C4N2 and H (shown at right). Another reaction that also yields C4N2 ice and H also is possible, but the researchers think it is less likely. A news feature can be seen here: http://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/nasa-scientists-find-impossible-cloud-on-titan-again . The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, manages the mission f...
Read more

Warming Mars’ atmosphere with nanoparticles

-
Image
  Mars has emerged as the leading candidate for human expansion. Its proximity to Earth, abundant amounts of sunlight and ample water trapped in ice makes Martian colonies theoretically plausible. One significant challenge though is Mars’ thin atmosphere . To heat Mars and thicken its atmosphere in preparation for human settlement, scientists have proposed that microscopic nanorods could be released into the Martian sky to accelerate the necessary greenhouse effect. The subsequent rise in temperature would melt ice and release more CO2 , trapped in solid form on Mars’ surface, significantly increasing atmospheric pressure. Using Mars’ own resources Due to a lack of magnetic field, Mars’ atmosphere was long ago stripped away by solar winds. Multiple strategies to thicken the Red Planet’s atmosphere have been proposed but require large quantities of resources, like greenhouse gases, be brought over as they aren’t abundant on Mars. With today’s current technology, the journey to Ma...
Read more